Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a process that involves the formation and development of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs relating to five core competences:

Self-awareness - the ability to recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and how they influence behavior. This competence involves the ability to assess one’s strenghts and limitations, the ability to set realistic goals with a well grounded dense of confidence and optimism;

Self-management - the ability to successfully handle one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations. These include the skills and strategies to delay gratification, manage stress, control impulses, motivate oneself, work toward personal and academic goals;

Social awareness - the ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others (including those from other cultures and faithful to other religions). Social awareness includes understanding social and ethical norms and the ability to find family, school, and community resources;

Relationship skills - the ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships (including with those from other cultures and faithful to other religions). The skills to establish and maintain relationships include knowlegde how to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressures, resolve conflicts and seek help;

Responsible decision-making - the ability to make decisions based on school or life expectations, ethical standards, safety concerns, social norms, and realistic evaluation of consequences. The well-being of oneself and others are considered when making such decisions.